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A Handmade Gift for Dad﻿

Father’s Day is this Sunday! And if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect gift for Dad, try making some of these Handmade Stepping Stones for his garden. The whole family will be able to participate in decorating them—plus, Dad (and everyone else!) will be able to enjoy them for years to come. Here’s the how-to:

You will need:

Tape
measure

5-gallon
plastic bucket with straight sides

Band saw
or sharp utility knife

Plastic
drop cloth

Lubricating
oil

60-pound
bag of concrete mix

Wooden
stirring paddle

Straight
edge

Old
pencil or sharp stick

Decorative
material (such as marbles or ceramic shards)

Directions:

Measure the
height of your bucket, and divide that number by five. (It should come out to
roughly 3 inches.) Make a mark on the side of the bucket at each of those
intervals, and repeat the process at three more places around the bucket’s
circumference. At each of those intervals, cut or saw through the bucket
crosswise, to produce five rings. Spread the drop cloth across a flat surface
(like a patio or sidewalk) and lay the rings on top of the cloth. Spray
lubricating oil on the inside of each one. Then mix the concrete according to
the instructions on the bag, and pour it into the molds to a depth of roughly 1
inch (or a third of the way up the side).

Now comes the fun
part—use a straight edge to level the surface of each stone, and add whatever
embellishments you like. For instance, write messages, place handprints, draw
designs, or push ceramic shards or marbles into the soft concrete. When the
concrete has hardened, push the stones out of the molds. Then, either fill ’em
up again to make another batch, or stash them away for a later pouring.